Cape



Oct. 1, 1929.

E. w. BULLARD 1,729,817

CAPE

Filed Sept. 11, 1928 evil' Patented Oct. 1, 1929 ELLERSLIE WALLACE BULLARD, OF ANNISTON, ALABAMA CAPE Application filed September 11, 1928. Serial No. 305,179.y

This invention relates to a cape designed primarily for use by bathers, one of the objects being to provide a cape woven in a single piece of fabric which, when not in use as a garment, can be employed as a rug or as a towel.

A further object is to provide a one-piece cape having a collar portion sepa-rated from the body portion of the garment by a casing which is woven into the fabric and extends throughout the width of the garment for the reception of a draw string.

Another obj ect is to provide a cape having a collar at each end whereby the cape can be inverted or reversed at will.

A still further object is to provide a cape with a casing produced therein by weaving, the ends of the casing being reinforced to prevent excessive wear or injury by the draw string while the cape is being gathered along the neck portion or is being straightened out for use as a rug or towel.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosedlmay be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure l is an elevation of the garment showing one end portion slightly gathered and the collar portion unfolded.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the garment showing the reinforcement provided at one end of the casing.

Figure 3 is an venlarged section on line 3--3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section more or less in diagram through the casing on line 4 4,

Figure 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates the body of the garment formed preferably of terry cloth and at each end of this body portion there is provided a collarportion 2. Obviously any desired designs can be woven into the body and collarv portions and these designs can be different or alike. The collar portions are not connected to the body portion by sewing, as is customary. Instead said portions are connected by separate plies of plain woven fabric indicated at 3, these pliesA extending throughout the width .of the garment but being relatively narrow and merging at their longitu dinal edges into the terry cloth. The plies cooperate to form a transverse casing.

Sewed to the casing at each end is a small strip 4 of linen or other strong fabric in which are formed spaced openings 5 which coinmunicate with corresponding openings 6 and 7. The opening 6 is formed in one ply ofthe casing while the opening 7 extends through both plies, oneend of thereinforcing strip 4 being folded back over the ends of them plies and being provided with openings 5 both of which register with the opening 7. A draw string 8 is threaded through the openings 5, 7, and 6y and extends longitudinally within the casing, a portion of the draw string being exposed between the openings 5 adjacent the ends of the strip 4 and said strip being slightly bowed as shown in Figure 3. String 8 is sufficiently long to allow the garment to be flattened out for use as a rug or towel.

By forming the casing in the fabric and of a plain weave, the collar will fold readily along the casing. Furthermore there is no part to become detached by'ripping. Instead. the garment is formed in one piece except for the added reinforcing strips or tabs 4 and the cord or draw string 5. Then, too, the bulk or weight of the garment is not ine creased at the neck, as would be the case should the collar be sewed on at this point or a tape attached to form a casing.

A garment made as described has no un-v sightly seams and appears equally well finished at either side.

Vhat is claimed is: f

l. A reversible cape including a body portionj,.collark portions at the ends thereof, casingsl joining the collar portions to the body and woven in one piece of fabric therewith, 100

reinforcing tabs secured to the ends of the easings, there being apertures within the tabs and casings, and a drawstring for insertion through the apertures in the tabs and longi tudinally within the casings, a portion of the draw string being exposed between the apertures in the tabs.

2. A cape including a body portion, a* coller portion, a casing joining said. portions, said casing and portions being all Woven in a single piece of fabric, reinforcing tabs at the ends of the casing, there being aperturesl in the tabs and casing, and a draw string extending through the apertures and longitudinally Within the casing, portions of the draw string being located outside of the tabs and holding the tubs normally bowed.

3. A cape' including a, body portion and a collar portion 'formed of terry cloth, a twoply casing oi" ordinary Weave joining the collar and body portions and Woven in ay single piece of fabric Ywith said portions, an apertured reinforcing tab secured to each end of the casing, and a draw string extending through the tab and longitudinally between the plies of the casing, a portion of the draw string being exposed outside of the tabs between the apertures, said string constituting ineens for holding the tabs bowed with the walls of the apertures gripping the string.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as iny own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

ELLERSLIE WALLACE BULLARD. 

